Rainforest Flashcards
Physical characteristics of rainforests
Close to the equator, high temperatures, high levels of rainfall, and large levels of biodiversity
Adaptions in plants and animals in the rainforest
Plants: Trees develop buttress roots which stableize the tree and also allow for more gas exchange to occur through them.
Animal: Animals such as the sloth use camouflage and move very slowly to make them more difficult to spot
Problems and issues with changing biodiversity
If we were to change the biodiversity we may throw off the intricate food web and mess with the interdependence within the rainforest
Deforestation
The rates for deforestation are increasing in the AMAZON rainforest as country’s that are lic or nee need the forest and use it as a reliable source of income
Subsistence and a Commercial farming
Subsistence farming is farming for food for the farmers whereas commercial farming is farming to sell and make money.
These cause deforestation as they need someone to clear out the forest for the room for farming and the soil is not too high quality and needs to be replaced all the time and more trees need to be cut.
Logging
This is causing deforestation as trees are cut down for sale as firewood or for burning for heat or energy
Road building
Roads being constructed involves cutting down trees but it also allows equipment to be brought in and used for cutting down trees deeper into the rainforest
Mineral extraction
In the Amazon the main mineral being mined for is gold and large amounts of forest are cleared for this mining
Energy development
Hydro electric power stations are being built due to a near unlimited source of of water. Trees are cut down to make room for flooding to allow the station work
Settlement
Due to an increasing population, more housing is going to be needed and therefore people are resorting to clearing areas of land for housing
Economic development
Countries such as Brasil have been able to economically develop using the rainforest as a resource
Soil erosion
The top layer of soil is the most nutrient and with no trees blocking the way it will easily wash away with a little rainfall
Contribution to climate change
Trees are a large carbon store and therefore when burned they release high levels of carbon dioxide, there fore contributing to climate change
Selective logging and replanting
This involves only chopping down a certain type of tree and then replanting them
Conservation and education
By education the people around about the rainforest and the need for biodiversity they will feel the need to keep it
